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The impact and consequences of globalization, whether good or bad, matter to everyone. The articles featured here help to understand critical globalization issues. They highlight how globalization affects and is relevant to grant-making. An overview of available grant-making entry points and information about other grant-making activity is provided.

Trade

Global trade has a profound human rights impact. A General Assembly of the United Nations resolution affirms that human rights should be the guiding multilateral trade negotiation consideration. International trade institutions should mainstream the right to development and strengthen global partnership development.

Trade regimes interface and overlap energy, climate change, transfer of technology, and intellectual rights. An evaluation must address the impact of intersection, divergence, and convergence on human rights. Human rights-based approaches entail consideration of how state obligations of trade law agreements affect the ability to fulfill human rights obligations. Here are some resources containing more information about trade and trade-related issues.

Labor

As industries and corporations become more globalized, an increasing number of people are affected. Massachusetts is trying to enact laws that restrict or prevent business with regimes that violate certain people rights in some fashion. Six hundred corporations formed a coalition that feels the movement is unconstitutional. The coalition is getting some judicial backup.

Famous brands become involved in a cycle that drives each other to measures that are competitive and maximize profits. Nike uses cheap labor from South East Asia. Enforcement and regulation are not as tight there as in Europe or the US. Exposure of using child labor has occurred. Nike is not alone in the practice. The apparel industry is often criticized for using sweat shop-like conditions in the Asian factories. Other labor, economic security, and livelihood issues are discussed here.

International Finance

There has been an increasing interconnection among the world’s financial markets over the last 20 years. Savers, investors, and national economies have benefited from the association. However, new challenges and risks for policymakers and market participants have been created by the change in market structure.

Thirty years ago a new factory for a manufacturer could only be financed by a domestic bank. Now, there are more options from which to choose. Lower interest rates are sometimes sought from foreign-currency loans that offer terms that are more attractive than domestic-currency loans. Foreign currency is borrowed. Bonds or stocks in either international or domestic markets can be issued. A variety of financial products is available that are designed to aid in hedging against possible risks. Equity can be sold to a foreign company. More information about international finance can be found on this link.

Environment

Globalization has altered the way people think about the environment. Environmental issues are global concerns. Protecting the atmosphere and oceans from pollutants is of international interest. Because of cross-border effects, international efforts are increasing to solve environmental problems. Neither one nor a few nations can solve problems of their own accord.

The Worldwatch Institute, Greenpeace, and the United Nations Environmental Program are non-governmental organizations that have joined the fight. A harmonizing governmental environment protection policy has concluded many treaties. Information about ecosystems and the environment are presented on this website.

Education

The effects of globalization cause constant changes in education. Rapidly developing communication and technology can predict learning system changes across the world. Knowledge, values, and ideas change the roles of teachers and students. A shift from an industrialized society to an information-based society is occurring. The effects of culture are being reflected, and a cultural imperialism is coming into view.

Children are being shaped into ‘global citizens.’ Development of a broad range of knowledge and skills that can be applied in a competitive, information-based society is the aim of education. Technological and globalizational advances increase world access, and the global outlook is reflected. On this website, FNTG presents other information about Education and Culture.

Health

Good health for every population is an international goal. Broad gains have been made in the last 100 years regarding life expectancy. Inequalities between the poor and the rich continue to exist. Future health increasingly depends on new processes of globalization. Globalization is no longer seen as just an economic process. An increasing perception of a more comprehensive process is developing.

The world is becoming progressively complex and interconnected. Human health will be an integrated outcome of institutional, economic, social-cultural and ecological determinants. FNTG tells of grantmaking opportunities and gives information about health as it is related to globalization.

Human Rights

There are different understanding and connotations of human rights and globalization. The differences pose some difficulty in discussing the topics. An ideal globalization concept would turn the world into a ‘global village.’ People would increasingly become interconnected, and barriers and fences would be removed.
A new state of free and fast flowing ideas, goods, capital, and people would exist. These processes would allow non-governmental individuals to become involved in transnational social movements. The global village phenomenon would allow scholars to study transnational integration and increase mobility that would strengthen the dignity and rights of all people. FNTG offers information about globalization and human rights.

Not everything written about globalization has been insightful or informative. The term ‘globalization’ is often used imprecisely or ubiquitously. Much work remains to refine the concept and gather evidence to assess the implications and meaning of globalization.

In spite of the contested nature of globalization, it is a useful term to describe the process that started around the sixteenth century, during the time of Columbus’ explorations. The world’s major regions are drawing nearer to a global system of ecological, cultural, and commercial exchanges. FNTG hopes to be enlightenment in that quest. The organization has published other articles on areas of globalization. They include:

Scholars have cited positive consequences of globalization. In the area of capital alone, capital flows to the most resourceful and productive business projects. The economy grows, and constructive social goals result. Living standards improve because of higher employment levels. Education is affordable. Taxes are lower. Large capital expenses such as health care improve human conditions.